Risk news

Firms across the world are coming down hard on the use of social media and technology in the workplace, according to new research.

A study by Clearswift reveals that following a series of high profile data breaches 68 per cent of companies now monitor employee internet activity and 56 per cent block access to some sites.

In Clearswift's 2010 study, just nine per cent of companies were globally engaged in blocking employee access to social media sites, yet in the latest research this figure has risen to 19 per cent.

Blocking is most evident in Germany (23 per cent) and Australia (21 per cent). The only exception is the United States, with 30 per cent of companies actively encouraging their employees to use social media tools.

Andrew Wyatt, chief operating officer, Clearswift, said: “It’s clear that we have seen some significant changes in attitude to social media in the last 12 months.

"Rather than embracing new channels of communication, companies have clamped down and become overtly defensive which is consequently stifling potential avenues of growth."

According to a recent study by CPPGroup, one in ten people have hacked into someone else's work or personal emails without their permission.